People living with fatty liver disease are at an “increased risk of dying from many different aspects of disease”, new research has suggested.
A recent study from Karolinska Institutet has found that adults with fatty liver disease are 50% more at risk of dying from other diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Otherwise known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), fatty liver disease affects one in four people globally.
Obesity can trigger the development of MASLD – a condition which can cause severe liver damage and liver cancer.
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First author Professor Axel Wester said: “Many people are not aware that they have fatty liver disease because it rarely causes any symptoms in the earlier stages.
“Our study shows that people diagnosed with MASLD have an increased risk of dying from many different diseases, not just liver disease.”
Throughout the trial, the team of researchers examined all 13,000 adults living in Sweden who have been diagnosed with MASLD to assess their mortality risk.
They found that people with MASLD were twice as likely to die compared to those without the condition.
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In addition, individuals with MASLD were at greater risk of dying from respiratory diseases, endocrine diseases, infections, gastrointestinal diseases or external causes, but not from mental illness.
Corresponding author Professor Hannes Hagström said: “It is important that we do not only focus on the liver when treating patients with fatty liver disease.
“A holistic approach and early intervention involving different medical specialities can be crucial to improve the prognosis for these patients.”
